KUALA LUMPUR: MIC will undergo a massive rebranding exercise to shed its 60-year “old generation” image.

However, party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu remained adamant the move would not affect its top leadership as yet.

“Talking about MIC's leadership is a step backwards. I don’t want to answer your question anymore,” he said, after being pressured by newsmen over leadership changes during a press conference at MIC headquarters here yesterday, after he chaired a central working committee meeting.

He said MIC's physical, operational and structural image had to accommodate the new needs of the rakyat, especially the Indian community, to remain relevant.

He said the results of the general election indicated that the party did the “right thing but in the wrong way,” by not fully utilising electronic media to its advantage when campaigning. This, he said, resulted in the loss of votes from the young generation.

In this context, he said the primary change was a 50% quota of young members in the party.

MIC has 630,000 members comprising 40% women, 30% youth and the remaining include leaders and other members.

MIC will also carry the new tagline, “A New Generation Party,” while maintaining its “MIC Cares” theme, with a new party logo, new song, and new uniforms for the women and youth wings.

A call centre will be established to entertain problems, and a new portal to replace the party’s current website will also be launched.

An MIC discount card will also be given to members for use at selected outlets.

“We are expecting total penetration of this image change within a two-year period.

“A detailed action plan will also be communicated to all grassroots leaders via some 140 meetings to be held in all branches from district to district,” he said, adding that the complete exercise would cost some RM500,000.

On queries if the party had been approached by Pakatan Rakyat to defect, Samy Vellu said: “We will continue to stay in Barisan, contribute to its objectives and also continue to serve the Indian community.”